SGN previewed the exhibit 'Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals, 1933-1945,' which is on display at the Henry and Sandra Friedman Holocaust Center for Humanity (2045 Second Ave.) in Belltown, from September 11 through October 31. I'm happy to report that it will leave you not only educated but filled with a sense of justice, becamore --------------------------------------------------

Drag King Ceasar Hart, producer of the monthly Small Town, Big HART's Drag Revue in Hoqiuam, Wash., has announced that proceeds from door, Jell-O shots, and a raffle for a $100 bill will go to Parker Perry Z, who struggles to pay for medical bills after an alleged bashing over Labor Damore--------------------------------------------------

The NCAA, which organizes most collegiate sports in the United States, announced on September 12 that it was pulling seven post-season sporting events out of North Carolina venues because of that state's anti-LGBT law known as HB 2.

The NBA has already moved its 2017 All-Star Gamore --------------------------------------------------

A new statewide campaign launched on September 15 aims to increase public understanding of the Transgender community.

TRANSform Washington, funded by a grant from the Pride Foundation, 'celebrates the dignity, diversity, and humanity of transgender and gender-nonconforming people,more --------------------------------------------------

With Washingtonians a few weeks away from receiving their general election ballots in the mail, the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) is hosting a candidate forum that will feature candidates who, aside from some of them being LGBTQ, are competing in some of the state's most more--------------------------------------------------

Diverse Harmony starting their 15th season! After Rhonda Juliano created Diverse Harmony in 2002, we are singing into our 15th season stronger than ever! We finished our 14th season by taking 62 singers to our 4th GALA Festival in Denver this last July where both Diverse Harmony and our a cappella group, Spectrum, performed in front of over 2,000 admiring fans!

Donald Trump has promised to appoint homocon Peter Thiel to the US Supreme Court, the Huffington Post reports, based on information from someone described as 'a source close to the PayPal co-founder.' Other sources are quoted as saying that people in Trump's 'inner circle' are also talking abmore--------------------------------------------------

Washington's senior US senator, Patty Murray, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) both marked the 22nd anniversary of the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on September 13.

'Ever since the Violence Against Women Act passed twenty-two years ago,more--------------------------------------------------

2. Pastor Steven Anderson has also attacked women asserting that women should not: work, lead in church; be independent; vote; read books of their choice and dress how they want, emphasizing that “men shouldn’t be under the tyranny of women”. Link at www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFaoOKk16lQ

3. In his 2014 sermon, Steven Anderson called for the “execution of gay people by stoning” before Christmas Day.

4. Steven Anderson also spoke strongly against the use of prescription medication, suggesting that it is wrong and referring to Medical Doctors as sorcerers (Baloi).

These are the messages that Pastor Anderson is bringing to Botswana. He approves of terrorism, the action that the Government of Botswana condemned in response to the Orlando Massacre calling the action “…unprecedented terrorist attack”. Clearly the Pastor has no respect for humanity and his messages go against our democratic ideals that promote Botho, peace, respect for humanity, protection from discrimination and inhumane treatment. Moruti Anderson is a threat to these cherished ideals.

Pastor Anderson’s messages attack and demean women, seeing women as second class citizens, unequal to men, discrediting them as holistic beings who are workers, academics and leaders. The Pastor refers to women as “home keepers and not office keepers” and sees women who work as having loose morals. These assertions erase the achievements that the women’s movement in Botswana has made over the years.

By calling for the killing of gay people, Pastor Andersons’ messages are homophobic and condone violence against fellow human beings and a group that is already marginalized.

In addition, Pastor Anderson’s rejection of modern medicine is likely to discourage people from accessing health services. In Botswana, in particular we are already struggling with adherence to ART, therefore this messaging will negatively impact on the efforts already made by Government and CSO to ensure provision and access to HIV treatment.

Following this, the Key Population Coalition in Botswana - (KPC – comprising LEGABIBO, BONELA, Rainbow Identity Association, Men for Health and Gender Justice, Pilot Matambo Center for Men’s Health) - are calling on the Government of Botswana, Civil Society, Human Rights Lawyers, Religious communities and Batswana to protect, promote and defend human rights by rejecting the divisive and violent teachings of Pastor Steven Anderson and denying him entry into Botswana.

We specifically call upon the Church leadership to firmly condemn religious fanatics who use the Bible as a weapon to kill, spread hatred and oppress women. We further call on the women’s movement to assert their stance in the protection of women’s rights and their democratic right to equality, education and employment.

We ask individuals, organizations and civic leaders to sign this petition as agreement that Pastor Anderson and his protégé Garret Kirchway should not be allowed to come into Botswana to spread hatred, homophobia, violence and sexism.

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